FR2693428A1 - Assembly for maritime or shallow depth underwater operation - uses non immersible and immersible assemblies for horizontal and vertical movement of ventilated operator cabin and manipulator - Google Patents

Abstract

The working platform has a non immersible sub assembly (1) providing horizontal and vertical movement. A second immersible sub assembly has a ventilated operator (7) cabin (2), connected to atmospheric air. Associated with the cabin is a scaffold (3) carrying a manipulator arm (6), for working by the operator. The sub assemblies move on vertical (4) and horizontal (5) rails. The operator cabin, if not watertight, but connected to atmosphere, may have a reinforced porthole, for direct viewing of work, immersed or not. The manipulator arm may end in a plate for rapid tool fixing. USE/ADVANTAGE - Safe working, immersed or not, for cleaning, maintenance, construction, technical or surveying operations.

Description

DESCRIPTION AND CLAIMS
DESCRIPTION
The subject of the invention is a complex assembly, composed of two complex sub-assemblies, defined to carry out maritime and underwater works, in complete safety, by an operator responsible for processing the live works and the dead works of floating bodies or hard infrastructure.

Patent applications for inventions were filed on the 1st
December 1983 under NO 8319436 and September 2, 1985 under NO 85130 in the name of Charles PENALBA.

These requests describe, for the first, a cleaning station for pleasure boats, for the second, a semi-submerged open-air cabin for all shallow underwater work that can contain at least one operator.

The present invention aims to provide technical solutions to the major defects noted during the construction, production and testing of the prototypes, resulting from the patents filed and mentioned above.

In the present invention, the cabin becomes a working volume with control station, from which the precise electrical and hydraulic orders emanate, reassuring determinants.

This volume, an integral part of a submersible sub-assembly, is mounted on rolling shock absorbers and stabilized on a trellis, serving as the backbone of the submerged body.

A specially designed hydraulic manipulator work arm is in place so that no unfortunate return can allow a shock between its components and the armored viewing windows.

Our invention differs from the current state of the patent technology mentioned below
681 562 08/1901 Middleton ......... 114/222 USA
702 965 06/1902 Kaucher ........... 114/222 USA
724 368 03/1903 Wood .............. 104/124 USA
732 082 06/1903 Johnson ........... 114/222 USA
872 888 12/1907 Becchi et al ...... 114/330 USA
1 349 578 08/1920 Neeper ............ 114/312 USA
1 415 661 05/1922 Lemon ............. 114/312 USA
1 456 386 05/1923 Lee ............... 114/222 USA
1 468 646 09/1923 Over all ........ 114/222 USA
998 491 09/1951 Branchu ........... France
Our invention is the subject of a new product, in fact - The volume mounted on shock absorbers, circulates vertically on the trellis, itself movable horizontally, thanks to spokes, located on a non-submersible sub-assembly.

- The arm is independent of the living space and has been specially designed, so that its buoyancy is zero.

In addition, the force and the pressure which it exerts, cannot exceed those of the human arm.

- Security systems, essential, allow the whole to be really operational.

- The penetration of the living space into the liquid medium is achieved by a purely mechanical effect, which dispenses the present invention from the usual ballasting and ballast systems.

 -, A light shield adaptable on the support to be treated, allows the operator to do a really efficient job.

- A removable, non-airtight dark hood is located on the upper duct; it is closed when the unit is operating.

The operation of the invention, defined as an assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, is as follows
An operator, located in a volume, has a control desk.

With the help of these commands, it actuates motorized systems which act on transmissions, which make it possible to position the volume in the place desired by the operator, by sliding the volume on rails.

From this location, the operator can thus view through an armored window, the work to be carried out, thanks to suitable and watertight lighting incorporated into the assembly.

To carry out these maritime and underwater works, the volume may be located in the open air or under the surface of the liquid element.

These works are carried out using special tools or means, which adapt to the receiving plate of a working arm. Specially designed, articulated and telescopic arm, located outside the volume, and controlled by the operator.

Although independent of the volume, the working arm loosens up according to the orders given by the operator, perfect synchronism with the movements of the volume.

Depending on the depth to be reached, more or less conduits are added, connected together by suitable and waterproof flanges and which are fixed to the volume, always in a perfectly sealed manner.

An access means, for example a ladder, located in each conduit, allows the operator to access his workstation.

Double security systems, located inside and outside the volume, allow the whole to function in a completely operational way, guaranteeing maximum security for its users.

This assembly is intended to carry out maritime and underwater works at shallow depths, for example not exceeding twenty meters.

This set, complete and autonomous, can be adapted to any support, land or sea, floating or not.

In work function, the upper duct is closed by a non-airtight dark hood thus connecting the volume, in which the operator is located, to the open air.

In order for the work to be carried out efficiently and operationally, a light shield covers the assembly.

This light shield is adapted and fixed on the support to be treated, using specially designed fixing systems.

The accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, allow the invention to be easily understood.

They represent a preferred embodiment by the inventor.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the assembly known for maritime and submarine works of shallow depth, and which may have a different architecture.

We see the volume, connected to the open air by the conduits, sliding along vertical rails fixed on the trellis, in order to position itself, at the depth desired by the operator.

The specially designed working arm is manipulated from the '1 volume by the operator, so that he can visualize his work
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the volume connected to the open air by the conduits. Ducts connected to each other by suitable and tight flanges. These removable conduits allow the operator to access the volume, for example, through an incorporated ladder. The upper duct has a non-hermetic dark hood. The volume is fitted with blinded portholes and can support suitable and watertight lighting systems.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the non-submersible sub-assembly, which supports motorized systems, ensuring, thanks to transmission systems, the horizontal and vertical movements of the inhabited volume and the working arm.

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the security systems, essential to the invention. The displacements of the volume and of the working arm are limited to the dimensions given by the inventor, to the horizontal and vertical rails. Security systems prohibit exceeding these dimensions.

In an emergency, a security system returns the volume to its rest position. This security system is twofold: one in the volume and one on the non-submersible sub-assembly.

A double safety system, based on the same principle, backs up the operator in the event of an emergency.

Crack 5 is a sectional view, where we see the assembly, attached to a support by a specific means, for example mechanical, magnetic or electromagnetic, controlled by the operator, from a control desk located in the volume
A light shield, integral with the non-submersible sub-assembly, is affixed to the support to be treated, thanks to a specific system.

Figure 6 is a sectional view showing the specially designed working arm.

It is articulated and telescopic. It supports at its end a receiving plate, intended to receive different tools.

The working arm will be fixed for example on the trellis, thanks to the fixing plate.

DESIGNATION OF MARKS
ON THE DRAWINGS 1 - Non-submersible sub-assembly 2 - Volume connected to the open air 3 - Trellis 4 - Vertical rails 5 - Horizontal rails 6 - Working arm 7 - Operator 8 - Armored porthole 9 - Lighting means 10 - Ducts 11 - Watertight flanges 12 - Means of access and evacuation 13 - Work arm receiving plate 14 - Motorized system 15 - Vertical and horizontal transmissions 16 - Rail-trellis dampers 17 - Dark hood 18 - security and limits 19 - Security system: volume up 20 - Light shield 21 - Light shield attachment to the work support 22 - Work support 23 - Control desk 24 - Arm mounting plate I work 25 - Branches telescopic arms I work 26 - Joints of the working arm 27 - Safety system. operator ascent 28 - System for fixing the assembly to the support

Claims (10)

 CLAIMS 1) Set designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, characterized by the fact that it is composed of a first non-submersible sub-set (1) ensuring the horizontal and vertical movements of said set, of a second submersible sub-assembly, itself composed of a ventilated volume connected to the open air (2), capable of receiving at least one operator (7), a working arm (6), a trellis (3) provided with rails (4,5). 2) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claim 1, characterized in that its volume (2) not sealed and ventilated, connected to the open air, comprises at least one armored porthole ( 8), allowing direct viewing of the work to be carried out, whether immersed or not, using appropriate tools and means, fixed for example on a working arm (6). 3) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work this shallow depths, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the end of the working arm (6) is provided with a receiving plate (13) allowing l 'rapid adaptation of various tools or equipment, allowing maritime and underwater work, cleaning, maintenance, construction, technical, scientific or observation, in immersion or not. 4) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1, 2, 3 characterized in that, actuated by the operator, the non-submersible sub-assembly (1) which ensures horizontal movements and vertical of the assembly, is composed of a motorized system (14), electric or not, which, acting on transmissions (15), positions the volume (2), on the rails (4,5), such so that the operator (7) visualizes, in immersion or not, the work to be carried out; this non-submersible sub-assembly is actuated by the operator from a control desk (23) located in the volume (2). 5) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1,2,3,4, characterized in that the trellis subassembly (3) equipped with shock absorbers (16) holds and allows the addition, by sealed flanges (11), of conduits (10) provided with an access system (12) to the volume (2), to vary the level of work. 6) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, characterized in that it comprises at least inside and outside, a lighting means, suitable, waterproof, on fixed or mobile plates, orientable or not (9), by or at the request of the operator (7), and only with mechanical, magnetic or electromagnetic systems (28) , it is kept in the working position on the ground or floating support (22). 7) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, characterized in that its specially designed working arm (6) is articulated (26) and telescopic (25), that it proceeds from hydraulic elements taking up the movements of the human arm, and that its technical realization is such that once submerged, its relative weight is zero, in order to be able to exert at its extreme point, a force or pressure, substantially equal to that which a human arm could exert; this working arm is fixed on the trellis (3) thanks to a plate (24). 8) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, characterized in that the assembly is provided on the one hand, with a security system (18) prohibiting the exceeding of the limit points for horizontal and vertical translation of the assembly, on the other hand a security system (19) ensuring the rise of the volume in an emergency, activated either, in the volume by the operator, either on the sub-assembly which cannot be immersed by someone other than the operator, and also a safety system (27), ensuring the operator's ascent in the event of an emergency, operated either in the volume by the operator or on the non-submersible sub-assembly by someone other than the operator. 9) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, characterized in that the upper duct (10) is provided with a dark hood (17) ensuring the non-hermetic closure of the upper part of said duct. 10) assembly designed for maritime and submarine work of shallow depths, according to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, characterized in that the non-submersible sub-assembly (1 ) is provided with an adjustable light shield (20), which adapts by special methods (21) to the dead works of the supports (22) to be treated.